Thankful For Everyday Life

 After my last sad post about Sarah

(you can still donate to help her family HERE)

And

all the sad sad things happening around the world, 

I wanted to post a Thankful post.

I love this picture of Sarah, posted by a friend of hers.

The joy in her face reminds me of the joy she must feel now,

in Heaven!
(and how much more glorious her smile must be!)

It's a happy picture for me, not a sad one. 

(OK, it's kind of sad, as tears well up and my throat has a lump in it)

 I've been really contemplating the meanings of the beads she created.

Thankful she not only created beautiful beads,

 but each bead has a significant meaning.

 My favorite?

The Rooster.

The detail, the meaning, so very fitting, especially now.

 Thankful my daughter also found the necklace Sarah made for me

I'd borrowed it to another daughter and the chain broke

The clay piece was lost, til the other day. 

I have since put a black cord through it, so it can be worn again.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary, 

given to me 4 years ago, the last time I saw Sarah in person.

You can bet it is even more special than it was before

(like, I'm not going to let any of my daughters wear it)

 Thankful we are making small home improvements, 

like here, I sprayed my GOLD fixtures a nickel color

 Thankful I got the back porches (steps) 

painted, it took me all summer, but I got them done!

Before above

 After

 After...forgot to take a "before" picture, but trust me, it was bad.

 Since we are in the backyard, Thankful for my hydrangea bushes

 and the beautiful centerpieces they make

 Thankful for MCCL (Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life)

In the almost 3 hour time period we were at the local fair

I spoke to a young woman that had an abortion and another 

who unsuccessfully tried talking a friend out of having an abortion.

There is so much hurt out there.

I love the positive messages this Corporation gives

and it is an honor to work their booths

There is so much pain out there, people need LOVE, 

they need to feel LOVE.

 We decided to go back to the fair with the littles this time

Thankful for cute moments like this one, 

waiting for a pony ride!

 Thankful for fair food!

The kids each got to pick one fair food

The choices they made were ice cream, mini donuts and cheese curds.

I got a bite of each!

 Yep, I was there too.

 I let my 8 year old have the camera

I'm like, "OK, one more picture."

And he was done.

 Thankful we have plenty of milkweed to feed our caterpillar

and plenty of kids to enjoy watching him eat it!

Thankful for pretty August mailboxes

 and back to school pictures

I even got myself!

(well, my 4 year old did)

Only 2 left to do

Why back to school pictures you say?

 because we started school on Monday

(she's mad she had to wear the orange shirt, not because of school starting)

We have from left to right:

a 3rd grader, 4th grader, 7th grader and 9th grader!

 I didn't forget the messmakers pre-schoolers!

 I'm doing letters, numbers, Little Saints Preschool 

and lots of play dough

 Go HERE

for a better idea of what we do!

Thankful I found 2 boards like this, one is with letters and pictures 

and the other is (red) with numbers and pictures

for $4.97 at Wal-mart!

Thankful for these awesome pens, really, no other pen compares.

(they are pretty cheap too)

 Thankful this year we decided to bind all the books we want to re-use 

for about $3-4 a book, done at Office Max, this is my favorite thing this year!

(next to the pens of course)

(this is last year's picture) 

Just a tip, I put each child's work in bins like this, it works well for us.

They are easy to pick up and bring to other rooms and they store little things

and the books are all upright so they are easy to read and grab.

 Thankful, among some of the things we are fixing around the house, 

the patio door is one of them!

This door has been broken for like 4 or 5 years.

Completely stuck shut.

Thanks to Mr 12 Lives at the Lake +1

We are getting a ton of stuff done!

 Like a screen door!!

So Thankful for a screen door!! 

 Thankful for get togethers with friends!!

Recognize these lovely ladies?

Sarah (With a Hopeful Heart)

Me (with Minnesota Humidity mascara running eyes)

and 

Margaret, (Minnesota Mom)

 Isn't she pretty?

If I'd have been on the ball and posted a 

single post on just this visit, I'd have called it

"Frozen Pizza and Whatever's In My Fridge"

Maggie here, only gave me one day notice!

That's OK, I can go with the flow!

 I always have lots of veggies in the fridge

And she can eat veggies! 

 We met at a famous flower garden in our city

where my almost-5 year old played in the fountains

 and Maggie's 5 year old played in the fountain

(Yes, I'm thinking match made in heaven, or at least at the flower gardens)

 I love the instant friendships that happen.
(I stole this picture from Sarah!)

 I got almost all my kids in a picture!!

Gosh, if you are still here, reading, aren't you Thankful it's over?

Thankful for August summer carefree days in the sun!

Enjoy it while you can!!